Derby County Forward Jamie Ward Signs A New Two-Year Contract

Derby County forward Jamie Ward has today put pen-to-paper on a new two-year contract.

The 28-year-old Northern Ireland international will now be contracted with the Club until the summer of 2016.

He is the seventh player to commit their future to the Club since the start of July, following in the footsteps of Jeff Hendrick, Craig Forsyth, Jake Buxton, Will Hughes, Craig Bryson and Mason Bennett.

Ward, who is one of the longest serving members of the Derby squad, played a key role in the side achieving a third place finish in the Sky Bet Championship last season and made 42 appearances in all competitions.

Head Coach Steve McClaren said: “We’re happy that Jamie Ward has become the latest player to sign a new contract with Derby County.

“He has proved to be an important player for us during the last year and it’s pleasing that he has re-committed to the cause.”

He added: “He is a threat to opposition defences and is a strong attacking option for us in the formation that we play.”

A former Aston Villa trainee, Ward enjoyed successful spells in the lower leagues with Torquay United and Chesterfield before moving to Sheffield United in 2009.

After an impressive loan spell at the iPro Stadium during latter stages of the 2010/11 season, in which he scored five times in 13 appearances, Ward penned a permanent deal in May 2011 after Derby agreed an undisclosed fee with the Blades.

He quickly set about establishing himself in the side and also became a fans' favourite for his lively attacking displays, as well as his never-say-die workrate and attitude.

He can operate out wide or through the middle, which brings flexibility to the side while he is also prone to the odd spectacular strike from distance.

In total he has made 122 appearances and scored on 28 occasions for Derby.

Ward gained his first full international cap for Northern Ireland at the beginning of the 2011/12 season against the Faroe Islands, before scoring his first international goal in September 2013 against Portugal.